joe public walking into cordoned off areas

[nailer]

jarborist, we work in Manchester and have never had a problem but yes I can imagine central London would be stretching it a bit with the let-everyone-go-where-they-want technique. Could you have a man on the blower creating a dust storm to ward off passers-by?

[Gareth Dalzell]

A few falling branches are nothing, we had a suspect device at the bottom of our road in Holywood yesterday and there was a lady trying to duck thru the warning tape and having a heated exchange with the police while the bomb disposal were doing their thing that she needed to get to her car to get to a hairdressing appointment. :scared1:

[fergusonforestry]

get it all the time does my nut! had it almost come to fisticuffs before one site we had signs, info posters, barriers, tape , a huge pile of brash add to that a foot path that was eroded away to bugger all and a horse on site, we watched with amazement as a group of joggers clambered through the lot when we told them they couldn't pass got a load of threats and abuse one big ugly t**t threatened to throw me in the river if I didn't move! well I didn't and he didn't, was funny cos you could see he was used to bullying people to get what he wanted, just started looking panicked and dodged round on the banking would have made my day if he'd fallen in the idiot at the front was yelling at rest to just shove us out the way and we couldn't stop them even said he'd kick our heads in!!.... funny he only said that one from a safe distance :lol:

[AlexB]

We did a big Rhodie clearance job in a wood with a footpath straight through the centre. This is in the middle of nowhere, but does attract the larger groups of Ramblers at times, so we put the provision of a banksman either end of the work as we progressed to cut a new track through.

Plenty of signs, all Hi Viz, Two ways etc

You wouldn't believe it if you witnessed it! I'd have needed a Rugby team at either end to try and tackle them! Groups would come in, totally ignore any instruction to pause whilst everything was made safe for them to be escorted through and proceed to walk between all the machines muttering we've every right to go through here etc etc etc.

 

We ended up stopping the job and going back with a full Footpath Closure. This was well signposted and the site properly fenced off with warning notices everywhere.

I was using the Excavator and Mulcher, which is lethal, and had a banksman on constant lookout. What a nightmare!!! The banksman even tried to stop 3 Ramblers breaking down the fence to enter, and they simply refused to go back.

I had to stop work and the resulting aggro cost easily half an hours work, but ended when I threatened to call the Police and have the arrested for preventing essential works?

We lost hours on this job trying to argue with idiots who come out with statements like "I've worked around heavy machinery all my life??" I replied, is that what you'll say in court when a lump of wood out of that Mulcher has just nearly gone straight through you?

 

They will drive you to despair and I'd fully agree with others, you'll always come off worst.

 

Was that the one near leek at the back end of an rspb reserve? I was doing some cutting for a chap on the reserve at the same time. I think I had similar issues with said ramblers not wanting to wait whilst I took down a hanger.

[d-raittuk]

i get some of you guys saying let them crack on its their inherent right and all that and thats fine. but as professionals we do have a duty of care to keep them as safe as possible. thats the reason for the signage and the banks man etc. we have tried all approaches with people being nice pointing out there wrongs etc. i mite get slated for this however i would definitely consider using force to remove someone out of a danger area if they where going to cause a danger to themselves or the lads. its a problem that will never go away and we will just have to deal with it.

[AlexB]

I'm regularly in busy FC forest parks. Mountain bikes everywhere. The only thing I've found to work is some one at either end and unless you're at the point of the tree going over stop the work and let them past. (they've already ignored warning, no access and diversion signs) you're working on their favourite bit and they're coming through as they've paid your wages (yes some one said that) with their £4 car park ticket! And just wack half a day extra on a job for stoppages. Though if I can I smother the trail with brash. They hate it when it gets in their spokes. Not so easy for you roadside folks though.

[JimM]

i mite get slated for this however i would definitely consider using force to remove someone out of a danger area if they where going to cause a danger to themselves or the lads. its a problem that will never go away and we will just have to deal with it.

 

Or throw a few sticks out of the cordon and tell them to go fetch.

 

I think if you are feeling like using force then use the Police Force. Would Breach of the Peace be applicable? Dean's result is a scary one. Perhaps we should stop and pass the buck to the Customer/Contractor if things were that bad. Difficult though when people's blood is up.

 

May the Force be with you!

[jarborist]

Nailer, thanks, luckily don't do much in London any more, but have a new list in preparation for the next one: electric fence, wasp nest signs and back pack blowers.

[Python]

I flattened a post man a few months ago he'd come through multiple taped barriers, blockades and a ridiculous amount of signs

[Gnome]

Cones barrier tape and signs for me. Have my whistle as well. Couple of blasts will alert your guys to intruders. Then you can give the the hold American Indian "How" sign to the trespasser. Or as I call it the "****in' WAIT " sign. then you can go over and instruct them if they need to get passed. Being overly polite but forceful should highlight the danger to some. Even pointing up in the direction of your climber can educate some of them.

Think referee !!!

Just don't go getting the red cards out. Remember the professional bit guys. Even though some deserve getting a Darwin Award sooner rather than later.